China's Liu Tianyou scores 699.6 points to finish second in the men's 10m air rifle event at the 2006 International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup held in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province, March 27, 2006. (Xinhua photo)

    GUANGZHOU, South China, March 27 (Xinhua) -- India's Gagan Narang wrote a dark horse story at the first final of the 2006 ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) World Cup in rifle and pistol here on Monday with his first-ever World Cup victory in the men's 10 meter air rifle.

    Narang, fresh from his triumph at the same event in the Commonwealth Games, continued his winning streak by collecting 597 points in the qualification round and 103.2 in the final.

    "Before I came to the World Cup, I was not very sure that I could win," said Narang, wearing a garland in his neck. "So I am very happy now, you know, it is my first win in a World Cup event."

    China's Liu Tianyou took the silver with 699.6 points, and Russia's Artem Khadjibekov, the gold medalist in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, grabbed the bronze medal with 699.1 points.

    Five marksmen, including Liu, entered the final with the same qualification score of 597.

    However, it was Narang who led for most of the 10-shot final. With a fabulous last shot of 10.8 points, the Asian champion in 2005 secured his second international victory this year with an advantage of 0.6 points together with an Olympic quota place for India.

    "I am extremely happy to win the first Olympic berth for my country," said Narang, who started his international career from 2002.

    "But I am not sure if I can have a chance to compete at the 2008 Olympics.

    "Anyway, I am in pretty good form now. My next aim is the World Championships and the Asian Games," he added.

    The seven-day World Cup in Guangzhou was the first shooting World Cup of the year with ten berths for the Beijing Olympics at stake from ten rifle and pistol events. Enditem